Konstantin Duhovny is a chef with a special gift in AFTERTASTE, by Daria Lavelle. Konstantin, or Kostya for short, always had tastes enter his mouth, but not from consuming food. As he makes his way in the culinary world, he realizes that this sudden tastes relate to the afterworld and more specifically to ghosts. Each ghost connects to a different taste that relates to something from when the ghosts were still living. Kostya figures out when he recreates the taste, it brings the ghost out of the shadows and into the living world for a time. Kostya leverages this ability into creating unique dining experiences, but there is a toll to crossing the line between the living and the dead.
Kostya is a soul look for purpose and contentment. He is a little over confident, a little to earnest, and a lot unsure of himself that he masks by being a little to confident and earnest. Those character "flaws" make him all the more likable and relatable. All the meals created are fun to read about and fun to see the connections to the ghosts. The supernatural element of the book starts slow and builds to a fascinating place that lets the reader lean in to it, rather than force the idea from the outset. The book does get a little slow in the middle, but once you hit about 3/4 of the way through, the ride gets fast and exciting and the ending is quite satisfying.
This book, AFTERTASTE, touches a lot of genres: romance, sci-fi, mystery, and humor, but the core of the book is the search for connection and hope. I enjoyed this book and I think it could be inspirational and heartwarming to a lot of readers.

'Aftertaste' is a lush and unforgettable debut that simmers with originality. Set in the heart of New York's culinary underworld, the novel follows Kostya, a quiet dishwater whose talent for recreating the favorite meals of the dead leads to an unexpected and haunting gift: the ability to summon their spirits. What begins as a tender service - offering grieving families a final moment of connection - soon spirals into something far more complicated as the boundaries between the living and the dead begin to blur.

Lavelle's prose is rich, sensory, and deeply evocative - every dish feels like it could reach through the page and place itself on your tongue. But this novel isn't just about food. It's about memory, grief, longing, and the strange ways we try to make peace with loss. The magical elements are woven seamlessly into a story grounded in real emotional stakes, and the result is a narrative that feels both fantastical and intimate.

Fans of 'The Night Circus', 'Like Water for Chocolate', or 'The Bear' (with a touch of the supernatural) will likely find themselves completely absorbed. I devoured this book and am still tasting its final notes.

Aftertaste is a tender, beautifully written novel that explores themes of loss, grief, memories, and the power of food to bring people together. Its premise is unique; I haven't read anything like it. I was engrossed in the story and couldn't put the book down. The food descriptions were mouthwatering and made me hungry. The concept of the afterlife that the author created was fascinating (especially the Hunger). The love story between Kostya and Maura was moving and bittersweet, with unexpected twists.

As a Ukrainian immigrant myself, I could relate to Kostya's immigrant experience and struggle to fit in. The descriptions of Ukrainian food made me nostalgic for the taste of home. Aftertaste is a book that will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it. I was going to give this book four stars at first, but after sitting on my review for a few days, I decided to rate it five stars because I couldn't stop thinking about it.
TW: death, depression, child neglect, self-harm, suicide attempt.

Konstantin's father dies when he is young. They have a fight before his father leaves for work and then he hears that his father has gotten into an accident. His world is turned upside down, his mother is unable to care for him, and he is 'haunted' by after tastes of meals that he has never even consumed. As he moves into adulthood he becomes more and more familiar with the aftertastes and although he doesn't truly know what they mean he starts to become passionate about cooking. He starts to think that maybe he can help strangers grieve by giving them a chance to share one last meal with the person they have missed by recreating the aftertaste. But he really has no idea what he is doing or what he is getting into.

This story was so fantastic, it was suspenseful and mysterious but also focused a lot on human connection and grief. I couldn't put it down!

This book is really moving and original. Konstantin's dad dies when he is ten, and at some point after that, Konstantin starts getting random, extremely specific tastes - aftertastes - in his mouth for no apparent reason. He eventually realizes they're connected to people who have passed away, and then he learns that if he cooks a meal that's exactly like the aftertaste, he can bring the person back for as long as their loved one is eating that meal. He meets and falls in love with Maura, who has her own feelings and background with the supernatural, and things unfold in ways neither of them could have predicted.

I found this book touching, insightful, and deeply entertaining. The plot didn't go anywhere I expected to - not that I could have ever imagined the twists and turns and depth to the supernatural aspect of this book - and it was hard for me to put this book down because I had to know what was going to happen. But the emotion in this book is the real heart. Lavelle describes grief with incredible delicacy and compassion, and the way both Konstantin and Maura process their losses feels so intensely real and powerful. I cared about the side characters right away, and the chaos of a restaurant kitchen was so fun to live in, especially in different iterations.

Despite this book being largely about grief, the overall feeling is hopeful. Konstantin helps give closure to so many people, and his journey is a testament to what it means to really love someone and then have to make sense of the fact that they're gone. This review is all over the place and not well articulated, but just know I loved this book and it will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

I LOVED THIS. The tongue and cheek attitude of the main character, combined with the heart, captured the energy of so many kick ass chefs in history. Constantine really had an Anthony Bourdain flair, and I loved the descriptions, the setting, and the FOOD! Such beautiful, funny, clever writing, I didn't want it to end. What a treat (budumcha)

If food can bring back to your loved one, even for a few minutes...how much would you pay for that or what would you do? I enjoyed this story. There is never a correct way to deal with grief, but this way would be very intriguing and unique. I would love for there to be a sequel!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

In this unique debut novel Konstantin “Kostya” Duhhovny has a disturbing ability to sense the presence of ghosts by tasting their favorite meal. But he only discovered this ability after losing his own father and recognizing the taste as his favorite dish, and now the aftertastes won't stop haunting him. After his mother's extreme reaction when he told her of sending him to a mental institution, he's kept his ability a secret. Then one night he decides to act on it and learns that he can briefly reunite people with their loved ones by serving the food.
I love all the descriptions of different foods and the high stress atmosphere of a busy New York kitchen. Kostya clawed his way up through the ranks with no professional training, trying to learn, believing in the good he can do, and hoping finally to get closure with his own father. Things start to turn toward the end with Kostya not fully realizing the danger of what he's done until it's too late and the ending is a nailbiting twist I never saw coming. Great debut novel... I can't wait for more!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

this book was SO good. such an incredibly unique storyline and plot and I kept turning the pages long past my bedtime!

I loved this!!! I love the concept! I love the execution! In Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle, we follow Kostya, who discovers as a young boy that he can taste the favorite foods of the deceased, a gift that allows him to bring their spirits back temporarily. We explore themes of grief, closure and the lengths that one would go to reconnect with their loved ones. Especially Kostya who wants nothing more than a few more minutes with his deceased father. Aftertaste has a unique blend of magical realism, romance and adventure. The ending broke me in the best way. Don't wait. Read it today!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Source Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

What I loved so much about this book is that I've never read anything like it! It was completely original and so beautifully written!

This book is about loss, grief, love, and healing. There is some romance in it as well as paranormal/magical realism. I enjoyed reading about the NYC restaurant scene and how deeply Koysta wanted to help reunite people with their loved ones who had passed.

If you are a foodie you will love reading about all the meals that Koysta cooks. They are descriptive enough that your mouth may just water a bit!

It's hard to believe that this is the author's debut novel I can't wait to see what she writes next!

Aftertaste is one of the most unique books I have ever read.

It’s so hard to even describe this book. It’s based on the idea that you can have one last meal or drink with someone you’ve lost. That idea immediately resonated with me when I heard about this book because I have lost both of my parents, my brother, my cousin, my nephew, and multiple aunts. I have had a lot of loss and I think many of us would love to have one more meal with someone we loved so very much.

With that central idea, the book adds in a bit of romance, a bit of a horror/thriller vibe, some comedy, and then heavy food descriptions that reminded me so much of The Bear. (And also made me hungry!)

I’m so thankful I received a copy of this book because it really affected me so strongly. Everyone’s grief journey is different but there is a shared sense of loss and pain. Sometimes it helps to know someone else understand what it feels like to miss someone a lot.

I think people who have experienced a loss will relate to this book in so many beautiful and heartbreaking ways. But I also think people who have not had a loss will enjoy the story. It’s really fascinating and so well written. This would be a fantastic book club book and my wheels are already turning as to when I can schedule that for mine.

This is available now and I would absolutely encourage you to read this emotional and powerful book.

Many thanks to @simonbooks for the #gifted advanced digital copy of this wildly inventive, wholly unique, and utterly mesmerizing read!

Konstantin Duhovny can’t see ghosts, but he can taste them. When a spirit is near, he experiences their favorite meal as if he’s eating it himself - every bite, every nuance of flavor. For years, he’s ignored this unsettling ability, until one day he acts on it. He discovers that through a dish or drink tied to a person’s memories, he can reconnect the living with their departed loved ones. He believes he’s found his calling, and soon he’s poised to open a restaurant in NYC where diners might have the chance to commune with the dead. But meddling with the natural order of things comes at a cost, and by the time he understands the consequences, it might be too late.

Aftertaste doesn’t fit neatly into a single genre - it’s part love story, part ghost story, and part meditation on loss and family. I was especially moved by how Lavelle explores food as a deep, resonant memory that ties us to the people and moments that shape our lives. Food can be so transportive, anchoring us in a particular place and time, and this book captures that power beautifully.

Although Konstantin’s story is at the heart of the book, we also get to hear from numerous dead and undead voices, adding an even richer layer of perspective. And Lavelle’s writing? It’s simply stunning - passionate, evocative, and profoundly moving. Her mix of narrative prose, character musings, and almost poetic passages made this a truly immersive experience. This is a book that’s going to stay with me for a long, long time.

🎧 Audiobook Notes 🎧 The narration is exceptional: Ari Fliakos, Tessa Albertson, André Santana, and Kristen Sieh breathe such life into this haunting and heartfelt story. Their performances capture the raw emotion and deep connections that pulse through every page. (10 hrs 23 mins)

This novel truly blew me away by its unique plot, beautiful prose, and its many, many clever (and mouth-watering) food puns.

Konstantin Duhovny loses his father at a young age, and begins to experience “aftertastes”, or tastes of significant or meaningful dishes, sent by ghosts. From there begins a journey that I don’t want to spoil even the slightest bit by trying to explain further; Just know that it includes an endearing cast of living and non-living characters along with glorious and gross foods described in delicious detail.

Lavelle brilliantly portrays the depth of each character’s emotions, and I appreciated the intimate details of NYC that transported me back there in an instant. It also made me appreciate how food is intertwined with my memories: the smell of a certain dish, where I was, who I was with, and what I was feeling at the time. This was a wonderful read, and I can’t recommend it enough!

This was an interesting read about love, grief, closure, ghosts, and culinary ambition. Kostya is our main character who discovers that certain food can bring back a memory or even a spirit and thinks it's his life's mission to reunite people and those who have past away with a dish in order to get closure. Then we have Maura, a spiritual artist and Kostya's love interest, who warns him of the delicate balance between the living and the Afterlife and the dangers of messing with it.

The characters in this story were well written, the plot kept me intrigued, and the descriptive writing brought the scenes and food to life. This was a unique take on a ghost story and the Afterlife, at times heavy, but with touches of humor and romance.

*Aftertaste* by Daria Lavelle absolutely wrecked me—in the best, most delicious way possible. Five stars, zero hesitation. From the first page, I was hooked like a contestant on a cursed cooking show where the prize is emotional devastation. The writing? Unparalleled. Lavelle’s prose is so rich and precise, it feels like every sentence was marinated overnight in metaphor and then seared to perfection. It's literary fiction with flavor—literally and figuratively.

Let’s talk about the food. The descriptions had me genuinely salivating. I had to put the book down at one point and go make something—anything—just to survive. Lavelle doesn't just write about food; she *worships* it. Every dish is a character. Every bite is tied to something deeper: memory, grief, love, identity. If you’re the kind of reader who’s ever cried over a perfectly described bowl of soup, congratulations—we are kin, and this book will spiritually feed you.

But beyond the sensory bliss, the story and characters had me in a full-body narrative chokehold. The emotional arcs, the tension, the way relationships unfold and unravel—it all felt *earned*. Not a single moment rang false. I cared deeply. Possibly too deeply. These characters moved into my brain like emotionally complicated roommates, and I’ll be thinking about them every time I cook for someone I love. *Aftertaste* is sumptuous, sharp, and soulful—a book that doesn’t just stay with you, it *seasons* you.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a digital copy for review!

I don't think I have read a book quite like this one. This book combines romance, horror and culinary drama in an interesting way. This was fast paced with quirky characters, humor and grief as well as hope. I love that this shows how memories can be tied to food, I would totally agree with this! This was addictive and easily bingeable. This book took me by surprise and was really good!

I didn’t really care for the story. It was over written and slow. I like novels that have frank discussions surrounding food culture, but this book was so flat and lifeless. I was expecting so much more. I wanted more complexity and nuance.

Thank you to Simon & Shuster and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Aftertaste. It was such a unique story that I was easily drawn into. I found the premise to be intriguing. Think John Edwards but add food! Such a well written book. A lot of food talk that definitely made me hungry! I would definitely recommend the book to friends. Wish all the best to this debut author.

Unlike anything I've read in my entire life, this one is magical and heartwarming and sad and heartbreaking all at once.